Ilmari Tapiovaara
Encyclopedia
Education and work
In 1937 he graduated in interior design and in the following year worked for Asko. He would be count Alvar AaltoAlvar Aalto
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware...
as a strong influence. His own work gained attention for the Domus chairs
Domus Academica
Domus Academica, colloquially called Domma, is a student housing complex in the center of Helsinki, Finland, owned by the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. It offers various services for students and also houses various Student Union organisations.The complex is internationally known for...
. These came about while working with his wife at the Domus Academica from 1946 to 1947. The couple established their own office in 1951. In the following year he taught design at the Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
. After this he would do work in Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
and Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
on behalf of a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
development program. Further in 1959 he received the Order of the Lion of Finland
Order of the Lion of Finland
There are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland . The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a...
's "Pro-Finlandia medal." He did much of his work for universities, schools, and also did a "Root Table" for the Finnish army. Furniture designs based on his sketches continued to be produced into the twenty-first century.